Tanya Patel and Chapter.London: Balancing Business, Motherhood, and Championing Women in Retail

In the world of retail, success stories are often woven with resilience, strategic thinking, and an innate passion for business. Tanya Patel, founder and CEO of Lily & Ribbon and Chapter.London, embodies all these qualities.  Patel shares her journey from an entrepreneurial schoolgirl to a leader of two thriving businesses, all while juggling the demands of motherhood and advocating for women in the industry.

A Natural Entrepreneur from the Start

Patel’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident from a young age. “When I was a little girl, I was really inspired by business. And I saw lots of males in my life have very successful businesses, but not many females. So I always thought, you know, wouldn’t it be amazing if I went out there and created my own business?” she recalls. Even as a child, she was finding ways to sell products, demonstrating an early aptitude for sales and commerce.

Her first official role in retail was at British Home Stores, an experience that cemented her love for customer connection and sales. “At the time, I was going to go and study law, and it was a pivotal moment in my life where I thought, actually, I feel like my passion is in business, and I need to explore this further,” Patel explains.

Climbing the Retail Ladder

A significant part of Patel’s career was spent at Marks and Spencer, where she honed her leadership and commercial skills. “I started off as a graduate trainee, and I learned great things about how to be commercial, how to lead, and also where I was really lucky as I was inspired by phenomenal people,” she says.

Her ambition and drive did not go unnoticed. “I had this big moment where someone came to do a commercial walk around in my store, and they asked me what I wanted to do in five years. I was really honest and said, in a few years’ time, I’d love to be in London. I’d love to be leading a team.”

Her honesty and determination paid off when she was offered a role on the project team for the Westfield store. “That was a moment where I felt like my career was really taking off,” she reflects.

Taking the Leap: Founding Lily & Ribbon

In 2018, Patel took a bold step and launched Lily & Ribbon, a maternity wear brand born from personal experience. “I had my first baby in 2016, and I realised that my career at Marks & Spencer was going strength to strength. But I still had the urge of not being able to find good maternity wear,” she explains.

Despite the risks, she trusted her instincts. “I remember having these conversations with my bosses about, look, this is my idea. I’m really excited. But if it doesn’t work, will you take me back?” This safety net gave her the confidence to pursue her entrepreneurial vision.

Juggling Motherhood and Business

Balancing two businesses alongside motherhood is no easy feat. “There’s this notion around balance, and I’ll be really honest with you, I don’t think I’ve found the balance, and I don’t think I ever will,” Patel admits. Instead, she focuses on being present in each moment. “When I’m in business mode, I’m in business mode. But when I do have these moments where I am with my children, I put my mobile phone away and I’m present.”

The Birth of Chapter.London

Patel’s experience with Lily & Ribbon exposed challenges within the retail industry, particularly with supplier relationships and stock replenishment. This led to the launch of Chapter.London. “I realised that we can really do something and create a business for businesses,” she says. “If you call me on Friday and say, ‘Tanya, we’ve got a best seller and it’s flying,’ I can now ensure fulfilment within seven days.”

The transition to working with UK-based suppliers also allowed for greater agility. “With Lily & Ribbon, I had to fly around everywhere and get severely jetlagged. With Chapter.London, I can just go to some of our local suppliers and be honest about what we can do.”

Championing Women in Retail

As a recipient of prestigious awards, including the Asian Woman of Achievement Award for Leadership, Patel has been a vocal advocate for women in retail. “After I received the award for Women of the Future, I was asked to be a Women of the Future ambassador. If I can just change the life of five women or five little girls and inspire them to be something else than what society thought they were going to be, I’ve done my job right.”

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

For women looking to start their own business, Patel offers candid advice. “It’s not easy, but never stop at the first hurdle. Have the self-belief that you can do it, but don’t fall into the false pretense that you can do it all. And if you can’t go to that school trip, it’s okay. It’s about taking everybody on that journey with you.”

She recalls a pivotal moment that shaped her mindset. “I remember after I won one of these awards, I was asked what I wanted to do in the future. I said I’d love to be a director for womenswear. And he said to me, ‘Why don’t you want to be the CEO?’ That one minute made me realise that sometimes my only stop is my own limiting beliefs.”

Looking Ahead

Looking to the future, Patel hopes to continue growing Chapter.London while staying true to her purpose. “Business is business. But actually, it really goes back to the purpose of why we’re here. And I feel like that’s definitely my purpose—to inspire the next generation.”